Written Answers Wednesday 10 March 2010

Scottish Executive

Alcohol

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it did not commission modelling from the University of Sheffield on the impact of minimum unit pricing of alcohol on low-income households when offered this at a cost of £7,400.

Nicola Sturgeon: The University of Sheffield’s minimum price research proposal provided an option to attempt to model the impact of minimum pricing on low income groups. The Sheffield proposal acknowledged that the small Scottish sample sizes meant that Scottish consumption and purchasing data may have been supplemented with UK-wide information, or the definition of "low income" relaxed. The proposal further noted that it was unlikely that price elasticity matrices for low income groups would be Scotland-specific, again due to sample size issues. The value of deriving estimates of the potential impact on low income groups in Scotland based on largely non-Scottish data was considered weak. In addition, the decision not to extend the study to low income groups was informed by the findings from the minimum price research carried out by the University Sheffield study for the Department of Health in England. That research suggested the impact of minimum pricing on moderate drinkers was likely to be limited, at around an extra £6 per year (based on a 40p minimum price).

Alcohol

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent on commissioning modelling from the University of Sheffield on the impact of minimum unit pricing of alcohol.

Nicola Sturgeon: As indicated in the Financial Memorandum accompanying the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill, the cost of the modelling work undertaken by the University of Sheffield was £63,876.75 (inclusive of VAT).

Alcohol

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it is spending to have the University of Sheffield redo its modelling study on minimum unit pricing of alcohol using updated consumption figures from 2008.

Nicola Sturgeon: The cost of updating the University of Sheffield minimum price model is £36,272.25 (inclusive of VAT). The cost reflects the considerable amount of work required to integrate consumption data from the Scottish Health Survey 2008 and the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey 2008, data from the 2008-09 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey, mortality figures and alcohol sales data into the model. These data were not available to the University of Sheffield researchers at the time of the original minimum pricing research.

Alcohol

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many off-licences were found to have sold alcohol to people under 18 in 2008-09, broken down by local authority.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is provided in the following table:

  Number of Offences Recorded by the Police, in which a Licensed Person has Sold Alcohol to a Person Under 18, by Local Authority, in 2008-09

  

Local Authority
2008-09


Aberdeen City
34


Aberdeenshire
61


Angus
4


Argyll and Bute
8


City of Edinburgh
38


City of Glasgow
53


Clackmannanshire
2


Dumfries and Galloway
7


Dundee City
20


East Ayrshire
12


East Dunbartonshire
1


East Lothian
15


East Renfrewshire
3


Eilean Siar 
2


Falkirk
15


Fife
51


Highland
22


Inverclyde
8


Midlothian
13


Moray
15


North Ayrshire
5


North Lanarkshire
31


Orkney Islands
2


Perth and Kinross
0


Renfrewshire
6


Scottish Borders
39


Shetland Islands
0


South Ayrshire
7


South Lanarkshire
40


Stirling
6


West Dunbartonshire
10


West Lothian
31


Scotland
561



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services

  The information available relates to offences in which a licensed person has sold alcohol to a person under 18. Information is not available separately for off-licences.

Alcohol

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many off-licences have had their licences suspended for selling alcohol to people under 18 in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30174 on 25 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx

Alcohol Misuse

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many psychiatric bed days in hospitals in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) Western Isles were directly associated with alcohol-related conditions in each of the last three years.

Shona Robison: There are no psychiatric inpatient facilities within NHS Orkney or NHS Shetland.

  Information on the number of psychiatric bed days which are directly attributable to alcohol-related conditions is not held centrally.

  Information on psychiatric bed days is recorded on the SMR04 dataset. SMR04 has space for up to six diagnosis codes to be recorded, a main diagnosis and up to five secondary diagnoses. Alcohol-related problems will be recorded as either a main or a secondary diagnosis, so it is not possible to identify the cases where alcohol was directly attributed to the length of the admission.

Alcohol Misuse

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many alcohol-related accident and emergency admissions there were in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) Western Isles in each of the last three years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of alcohol-related accident and emergency admissions in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) Western Isles is not available centrally.

  Information on the number of accident and emergency (A&E) attendances which resulted in an alcohol related inpatient or day case episode in hospitals in Highland, Orkney, Shetland or Western Isles is shown in table 1.

  Table1: SMR01 acute1 inpatient2 and day case discharges with an alcohol-related diagnosis3,4,5 recorded in any position, where the patient was referred from an A&E department to hospitals in Highland, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles Health Boards of treatment, 2006-07-2008-09P:

  

 
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09P


Highland
172
248
101


Orkney
-
-
-


Shetland
-
*
*


Western Isles
225
135
78



  PProvisional.

  Notes:

  1. Excludes mental illness hospitals, psychiatric units and maternity hospitals.

  2. Figures in this table relate only to those individuals who are treated as inpatients or day cases in an acute hospital. They do not include individuals managed as outpatients.

  3. Discharges where alcohol-related diagnosis is recorded as primary or secondary reasons for admission to hospital.

  4. Diseases recorded using the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10). Alcohol-related: F10, K70, X45, X65, Y15, Y90, Y91, E24.4, E51.2, G31.2, G62.1, G72.1, I42.6, K29.2, K86.0, O35.4, P04.3, Q86.0, T51.0, T51.1, T51.9, Y57.3, R78.0, Z50.2, Z71.4, Z72.1. These codes were defined in a recent in-depth review of ISD’s core alcohol related code set. Further information about the review and resulting consultation process is available at:

  http://www.alcoholinformation.isdscotland.org/alcohol_misuse/3986.html.

  6. Caution is necessary when interpreting these figures. The recording of alcohol-related problems may vary from hospital to hospital.

  *Indicates values that have been suppressed due to the potential risk of disclosure.

Alcohol Misuse

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute occupied bed days in hospitals in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) Western Isles were directly associated with alcohol-related conditions in each of the last three years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of acute occupied bed days which are directly attributable to alcohol-related conditions is not held centrally.

  Information on acute occupied bed days is recorded on the SMR01 dataset. SMR01 has space for up to six diagnosis codes to be recorded, a main diagnosis and up to five secondary diagnoses. Alcohol-related problems will be recorded as either a main or a secondary diagnosis, so it is not possible to identify the cases where alcohol was directly attributed to the length of the admission.

  Table 1: The total length of stay (bed days) of patients treated in general acute hospitals1,2 in NHS Highland, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland and NHS Western Isles3 for alcohol-related conditions4,5,6, 2006-07 to 2008-09P:

  

 
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09P


Highland
14,949
14,335
12,568


Orkney
1,005
499
704


Shetland
572
240
542


Western Isles
2,762
1,732
1,220



  Source: ISD Scotland (SMR01).

  PProvisional.

  Notes:

  1. Excludes mental illness hospitals, psychiatric units and maternity hospitals.

  2. Figures in this table relate only to those individuals who are treated as inpatients or day cases in an acute hospital. They do not include individuals managed as outpatients.

  3. Note that these figures include residents from other health boards that were treated in Highland and Island hospitals but do not include Highland and Island residents treated in other health boards.

  4. Discharges where alcohol-related diagnosis is recorded as primary or secondary reasons for admission to hospital.

  5. Diseases recorded using the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10).

  - Alcohol-related: F10, K70, X45, X65, Y15, Y90, Y91, E24.4, E51.2, G31.2, G62.1, G72.1, I42.6, K29.2, K86.0, O35.4, P04.3, Q86.0, T51.0, T51.1, T51.9, Y57.3, R78.0, Z50.2, Z71.4, Z72.1. These codes were defined in a recent in-depth review of ISD’s core alcohol related code set. Further information about the review and resulting consultation process is available at:

  http://www.alcoholinformation.isdscotland.org/alcohol_misuse/3986.html.

  6. Caution is necessary when interpreting these figures. The recording of alcohol-related problems may vary from hospital to hospital.

  Due to the way alcohol related conditions are recorded, we are unable to determine whether or not the reason for admission is directly attributable to alcohol. Therefore, this figure may be an overestimate.

  Information in the table relates to discharges from acute non-obstetric, non-psychiatric hospitals. It should be noted that patients with alcohol-related conditions may be admitted to mental illness hospitals. Statistics for these admissions are not included in the table.

Allotments

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a local authority is legally competent to manage its allotments if it has no regulations for that purpose that have been confirmed by the Scottish Ministers in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30799 on 21 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Allotments

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are available to compel a local authority to comply with its statutory management obligations under section 10(2) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1950 and sections 7(5) and 14 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892.

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31590 by John Swinney on 12 February 2010, what powers are available to compel a local authority to comply with its obligation under section 7(5) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 to demolish unauthorised buildings on an allotment.

John Swinney: If a local authority fails to comply with its mandatory obligations regarding management of allotments, it could be liable to legal action if those concerned decide to pursue this to compel the local authority to fulfil those obligations.

Allotments

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are available to compel a local authority to cease invoicing its tenants in advance for more than 25% of allotment rents, as provided for in section 10(2) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1950.

John Swinney: Under section 10(2) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1950, a tenant cannot be required to pay more than 25% of annual rent in advance, unless the rent is £1 or less. However, the legislation does not prevent a local authority from invoicing a tenant for the full sum.

Allotments

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are available to compel a local authority to prepare and publish the annual statement of receipts and expenditure for its allotments required by section 14 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892.

John Swinney: Section 14 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 requires that an annual statement is made available for inspection. It does not formally require the publication of the statement. If a local authority fails to comply with its obligations, it could be liable to legal action if those concerned decide to pursue this to compel the local authority to fulfil those obligations.

Apprenticeships

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in the (a) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency, (b) East Ayrshire Council area and (c) South Ayrshire Council area have successfully applied for the £1,000 incentive offered by the Invest in an Apprentice scheme running until 26 March 2010.

Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland (SDS). However for your convenience I have set out the information requested below.

  (ii) The number of businesses in the areas requested supported through the Apprenticeship Grant scheme as at 16 February 2010 are as follows:

  

Area
Businesses Claiming Grant
Individuals Supported


Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency
9
54


East Ayrshire Council
18
80


South Ayrshire Council
28
80



  SDS is still processing applications, so these numbers are not final. Due to the highly positive response from employers, SDS closed the Apprenticeship Grant scheme on 5 February 2010.

Blind and Partially Sighted People

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, given the ageing population, what measures are being taken to accommodate the health and social care needs of the increasing number of blind and partially sighted people.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government, NHS Scotland and local authorities have recently embarked on a major programme to reshape care for older people and all aspects of delivering care are within the scope of that review. We are therefore committed to an extensive programme of public engagement as part of the work of the reshaping programme. Details of a series of national and local events will be announced shortly.

  We have also very recently launched Care Information Scotland which offers information and guidance for care and support services for older people. Further information is available at the following website http://www.careinfoscotland.co.uk/home.aspx.

  The Scottish Government has made available £2.6 million of pump priming funding through NHS boards and their stakeholders to help further develop eye care services in the community. An evaluation of the pilot projects has been undertaken and a report is currently being finalised.

  We have also made £2.2 million available over this, and the next, financial year to pilot seven "one stop shop" models for sensory impairment services across Scotland. We are working alongside organisations representing people with visual and hearing impairments such as RNIB Scotland and Grampian Society for the Blind in piloting the "one stop shop" model. Areas that have a high proportion of older people, such as the Borders, Western Isles and Argyll and But, have been specifically chosen as pilots.

Bridges

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28121 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 October 2009, what timescales it envisages for Transport Scotland and the Highland Council to (a) purchase and (b) grant planning permission for land for the proposed park-and-ride facility during the roadworks on the Kessock Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: Land purchase and planning permission for a permanent park-and-ride facility is being taken forward by the Highland Council. The provision of a temporary park-and-ride facility during the roadworks is one of the options being considered by Transport Scotland to reduce the volume of traffic over Kessock Bridge during the works and this option will be considered further once the outcome of the planning application is known.

Bridges

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what timescales have been considered for the introduction of new buses for the proposed park-and-ride facility during the roadworks on the Kessock Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: Early discussions have been held with a major bus operator. However, the successful bus operator must be selected using a competitive tendering process. The start of this process will be subject to the outcome of the planning approval process for a park and ride site and confirmation of dates for proceeding with the planned works.

Bridges

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to (a) animal welfare issues and (b) restrictions on the time that livestock will be on transport travelling from the far north during the roadworks on the Kessock Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: There will be wide consultation and detailed pre-planning to minimise disruption to all vehicles. Whilst animal welfare is an important consideration, transporters will need to take account of potential delays at Kessock Bridge when they plan their journeys. It is not anticipated that traffic delays will be excessive once additional measures are in place and sufficient advance warning is provided for road users to help them better plan their journeys taking account of the roadworks on the bridge.

British Geological Survey

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the proposed relocation of the UK continental shelf core and records collections to Keyworth will have on students at Scottish universities.

Jim Mather: The current proposal to relocate the core and records recollection to Keyworth could disadvantage students at Scottish universities. Moving the core storage facility to Keyworth will affect ease of access and increase costs for students in Scotland. The financial implications of travel and overnight stays involved could prove too high for many students with the result that they would be unable to make use of the core data in their research.

Buildings

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers (a) it, (b) its agencies, (c) local authorities and (d) other bodies have to ensure that landowners ensure that their properties, including derelict or vacant properties, are maintained.

Richard Lochhead: There are a wide range of provisions that have the potential directly or indirectly to require actions by landowners or property owners to remedy deficiencies of one kind or another.

  Some examples of particular note are:

  - In the rural environment, farm dwelling houses and other farm buildings listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997, the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and sites included in the Inventory of Historic Gardens and Designed Landscapes are protected under Cross Compliance from alteration, damage or destruction by land managers who receive European Common Agricultural Policy support payments.

  - In the historical environment,though it will often be the case that local authorities may also use other powers under eg the Building or Housing Acts to deal with historic buildings.

  Particularly, the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997, Sections 42 and 43 relate to listed buildings and allow either local authorities or Scottish ministers to serve a repairs notice as the basis for the compulsory purchase of the property. Section 49 allows local authorities or Scottish ministers to serve an urgent works notice on an unoccupied listed building. Section 50 allows the local authority or Scottish ministers to recover the costs incurred in serving a notice under Section 49 from the owner. Section 68 allows the powers under Section 49 to be applied to unlisted buildings within a conservation area.

  In addition, Section 5 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 allows Scottish ministers to carry outworks for the preservation of a scheduled monument in cases of urgency. Section 10 allows Scottish ministers to acquire compulsorily any ancient monument for the purpose of securing its preservation.

  In the urban environment:

  - Section 179 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 provides planning authorities with the power to serve a notice on the owner, lessee or occupier of land in their area where they consider that the state of the property is adversely affecting the amenity of the area. Such notices may require specified steps to be taken to improve the condition of the land.

  Also, the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 contains powers for local authorities to deal with defective and dangerous buildings. Section 28 allows a local authority to serve a defective building notice on the owner of the building where they consider that there is a defect(s) which requires rectification to bring the building into a reasonable state of repair, taking into account its age, type and location.

  Section 29 of that act requires a local authority to deal with dangerous buildings and carry out work to make the building and surrounding area safe. They may undertake emergency work and serve a dangerous building notice under Section 30.

Cancer

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in (a) total and (b) each NHS board area received treatment for cancer in the last year for which figures are available.

Nicola Sturgeon: The most recent year for which figures are available is 2007. Information on the number of patients treated for cancer in Scotland in 2007, by NHS Board of Residence, is shown in the following table:

  Treatment1,2 for Patients Diagnosed with Cancer3 in 2007, by NHS Board of Residence

  

NHS Board of Residence
Number Undergoing Treatment1,2,4


Ayrshire and Arran
1,570


Borders
454


Dumfries and Galloway
711


Fife
1,265


Forth Valley
1,122


Grampian
2,096


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
4,426


Highland and Argyll
1,333


Lanarkshire
2,077


Lothian
3,141


Orkney
76


Shetland
110


Tayside
1,697


Western Isles
139


Scotland
20,217



  Source: Scottish Cancer Registry, NHS ISD.

  Notes:

  1. Defined as those undergoing Surgery, Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy and Other Therapy.

  2. Analysis is restricted to treatment in the period covering the first six months after diagnosis.

  3. Defined as all malignant neoplasms excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (ICD-10 C00-C96 excluding C44).

  4. For a proportion of patients, treatment status is recorded as "Unknown".

Cancer

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been budgeted to meet the targets in Better Cancer Care, An Action Plan in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

Nicola Sturgeon: Commitments set out in Better Cancer Care, An Action Plan  are funded directly and indirectly through a number of different Scottish Government channels.

  Better Cancer Care included a commitment to support the ongoing development of MacMillan Cancer Support’s Scotland Service Network through the award of a £500,000 investment over two years (2008-10) to extend the range and quality of benefits and financial advice given through network partnerships.

  Funding is made available for the replacement of radiotherapy equipment, which in 2009-10 amounted to £20.6 million. Funding for the coming financial year is still to be determined.

  A total of £4.54 million has been committed to deliver the breast, bowel and cervical cancer screening programmes in 2010-11.

  For the cancer waiting times commitments, a total of £519,558 was provided  2008-09, and £711,000 in 2009-10 on a non-recurring basis to NHS boards. The budgets for 2010-11 have not yet been finalised.

  In 2009-10, a total of £65,000 of Section 16B grant funding was made available to Maggie’s Centres, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Care, for specific project work to support people living with cancer, in line with commitments in Better Cancer Care. It is expected that a number of Scottish cancer charities will benefit from Section 16B grant funding in 2010-11, in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the delivery of cancer care.

  The Scottish Government Chief Scientist’s Office is currently funding 33 cancer research projects at a cost of £6.1 million. In addition, the Chief Scientist Office spends approximately £11.8 million per annum supporting the cost of cancer research carried out in the NHS.

  In addition, the Scottish Government is funding a range of healthy lifestyle campaigns around alcohol, smoking, sun/UV exposure, and obesity, which will all help to lower the number of cancer diagnoses in Scotland, as set out in Better Cancer Care.

Central Heating

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households it plans to support through its boiler scrappage scheme.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will apply the £400 discount offered by the UK Government in its boiler scrappage scheme.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many estimated jobs will be created by its boiler scrappage scheme.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will administer the delivery of its boiler scrappage scheme.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when householders will be able to apply to the boiler scrappage scheme.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31666 on 9 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Central Heating

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times it has met representatives of the UK Government to discuss how it delivers its boiler scrappage scheme, broken down by (a) date of meeting and (b) minister involved.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not met with representatives of the UK Government about its boiler scrappage scheme, but officials have consulted on a number of occasions the Energy Saving Trust which is managing the scheme on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change. We are currently developing a boiler scrappage scheme that will suit the needs of Scottish householders and support the forthcoming Energy Efficiency Action Plan.

Clean Neighbourhood and Environments Act 2005

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an assessment of the powers conferred on English and Welsh local authorities by the Clean Neighbourhood and Environments Act 2005 and, if so, how they compare with the equivalent powers of Scottish local authorities.

Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government has looked at some of the provisions of the act in relation to equivalent powers available to Scottish local authorities under other legislation. However, no overall assessment has been made.

Constitution

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30746 by Bruce Crawford on 28 January 2010, how many officials from the (a) Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel and (b) relevant policy directorate have been employed in the drafting of the proposed Referendum Bill.

Bruce Crawford: The Referendum Bill team comprises of three policy officials. The drafting of the Referendum (Scotland) Bill was carried out by two officials in the Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel.

Crime

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many violent crimes were reported in each of the last 10 years.

Kenny MacAskill: Information on the number of violent crimes recorded by the police over the last ten years is given in tables 1 and 2 of the annual statistical bulletin series Recorded Crime in Scotland. The statistical bulletin Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2008-09 can be obtained at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/09/28155153/0.

Crime

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals were convicted of carrying a knife or other bladed weapon in each of the last three years, broken down by manner of disposal.

Fergus Ewing: The crime category for handling an offensive weapon includes the offences of having in a public place an article with a blade or point, possession of an offensive weapon and restriction of offensive weapons. Over the last three years overall, the type of weapon has been recorded with around two-thirds of offences. Where the type of weapon has been recorded, for the offence of having in a public place an article with a blade or point, 90 per cent of the weapons are knives, and, for the offence of possession of an offensive weapon, 22 per cent of weapons are knives.

  The available information is given in the following table:

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Handling Offensive Weapons1, 2006-07 to 2008-09

  

Offence/disposal
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


Having in a public place an article with a blade or point
 
 
 


Custody
644
629
669


Community sentence
545
596
667


Monetary
404
348
354


Other
162
146
157


Total
1,755
1,719
1,847


Possession of an offensive weapon
 
 
 


Custody
404
363
385


Community sentence
552
518
559


Monetary
616
580
497


Other
223
240
241


Total
1,795
1,701
1,682


Restriction of offensive weapons
 
 
 


Custody
0
0
0


Community sentence
0
0
0


Monetary
0
1
0


Other
0
1
0


Total
0
2
0


All offences
 
 
 


Custody
1,048
992
1,054


Community sentence
1,097
1,114
1,226


Monetary
1,020
929
851


Other
385
387
398


Total
3,550
3,422
3,529



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Crime

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals convicted of carrying a knife or other bladed weapon were given a custodial sentence in each of the last three years, broken down by length of sentence.

Fergus Ewing: The crime category for handling an offensive weapon includes the offences of having in a public place an article with a blade or point, possession of an offensive weapon, and restriction of offensive weapons. Over the last three years overall, the type of weapon has been recorded with around two-thirds of offences. Where the type of weapon has been recorded, for the offence of having in a public place an article with a blade or point, 90 per cent of the weapons are knives, and, for the offence of possession of an offensive weapon, 22 per cent of weapons are knives.

  The available information is given in the following table:

  Persons Receiving a Custodial Sentence in Scottish Courts for Handling an Offensive Weapon1, 2006-07 to 2008-09

  

Offence / custodial sentence length
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


Having in a public place an article with a blade or point
 
 
 


Up to 3 months
269
185
130


Over 3 months to 6 months
240
207
251


Over 6 months to 2 years
130
226
265


Over 2 years to less than 4 years
5
11
20


4 years and Over
0
0
3


Total
644
629
669


Possession of an offensive weapon
 
 
 


Up to 3 months
200
144
103


Over 3 months to 6 months
141
113
143


Over 6 months to 2 years
59
96
123


Over 2 years to less than 4 years
4
10
15


4 years and Over
0
0
1


Total
404
363
385


Restriction of offensive weapons
0
0
0


All offences
 
 
 


Up to 3 months
469
329
233


Over 3 months to 6 months
381
320
394


Over 6 months to 2 years
189
322
388


Over 2 years to less than 4 years
9
21
35


4 years and Over
0
0
4


Total
1,048
992
1,054



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Homicide in Scotland, 2008-09 , how many homicide victims there were in 2008-09 in each (a) local authority and (b) police force area, broken down by main method of killing.

Kenny MacAskill: The following tables contain a breakdown of homicide victims by (a) local authority area and by (b) police force area, by main method of killing.

  Victims Currently1 Recorded as Homicide Victims by Main Method of Killing and Local Authority Area, 2008-09

  

Local Authority
All Main Methods
Shooting
Sharp Instrument
Blunt Instrument
Hitting and Kicking
Strangulation/Asphyxiation
Drowning
Fire
Poisoning
Other or Unknown


Aberdeen City
6
-
5
-
-
-
-
-
1
-


Aberdeenshire
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
1


Angus
2
-
1
-
-
1
-
-
-
-


Argyll and Bute
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-


Clackmannanshire
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Dumfries and Galloway
2
-
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-


Dundee
3
-
1
-
-
1
-
-
1
-


East Ayrshire
5
-
2
1
2
-
-
-
-
-


East Dunbartonshire
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


East Lothian
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


East Renfrewshire
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Edinburgh City
4
1
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Eilean Siar
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Falkirk
3
-
1
-
-
1
-
-
-
1


Fife
6
-
3
-
3
-
-
-
-
-


Glasgow City
25
1
20
1
2
-
1
-
-
-


Highland
2
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Inverclyde
2
-
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
-


Midlothian
2
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
1
-


Moray
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


North Ayrshire
3
-
2
-
-
-
-
1
-
-


North Lanarkshire
5
-
2
2
-
-
-
-
-
1


Orkney Islands
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Perth and Kinross
2
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
-


Renfrewshire
4
-
1
1
1
-
-
-
-
1


Scottish Borders
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Shetland Islands
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
1
-


South Ayrshire
4
-
2
-
-
1
-
1
-
-


South Lanarkshire
8
-
4
1
-
1
-
-
2
-


Stirling
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1


West Dunbartonshire
3
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


West Lothian
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Scotland
99
2
57
8
10
5
1
3
8
5



  Source: Justice Analytical Services, Scottish Government.

  Note: 1. As at January 2010.

  Victims Currently1 Recorded as Homicide Victims by Main Method of Killing and Police Force Area, 2008-09

  

Police Force Area
All Main Methods
Shooting
Sharp Instrument
Blunt Instrument
Hitting and Kicking
Strangulation/Asphyxiation
Drowning
Fire
Poisoning
Other or Unknown


Northern
4
-
2
-
-
-
-
1
1
-


Grampian
8
-
5
-
-
-
-
-
2
1


Tayside
7
-
3
1
-
2
-
-
1
-


Fife
6
-
3
-
3
-
-
-
-
-


Lothian and Borders
7
1
5
-
-
-
-
-
1
-


Central
5
-
2
-
-
1
-
-
-
2


Strathclyde
60
1
36
7
6
2
1
2
3
2


Dumfries and Galloway
2
-
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-


Scotland
99
2
57
8
10
5
1
3
8
5



  Source: Justice Analytical Services, Scottish Government.

  Note: 1. As at January 2010.

  In 2008-09, there were 97 cases currently (as at January 2010) recorded as homicide by the police, in Scotland. These cases resulted in the deaths of 99 victims. For 96 of the 99 homicide victims in 2008-09, one or more accused persons have been identified (as at January 2010). A total of 132 accused persons had been identified for the homicide cases recorded in 2008-09.

  The Scottish Government is taking proactive action to address violent crime and homicide. The government’s alcohol bill is bringing forward proposals for minimum prices for alcohol – an approach supported by experts as an effective way of reducing alcohol misuse, a contributory factor in much violent crime.

  We are continuing to provide record investment in the police-led national Violence Reduction Unit. Their work to tackle homicide includes the development of the Phoenix homicide database in conjunction with Strathclyde Police. This database enables the police to collect and analyse information from homicides in the force area, including detailed information about victims, offenders and locations. Feedback received at debriefing meetings, held once cases are closed, is also being inputted to enable officers to learn from the experience of previous cases and promote best practice.

Dentistry

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teeth were extracted in the (a) NHS general, (b) hospital and (c) community dental service setting in 2009, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Centrally held information on the number of teeth extracted is only available for NHS General Dental Services (GDS). The following table shows, by NHS Board, the number of teeth extracted in the GDS setting in 2008-09.

  Number of Teeth Extracted in the NHS General Dental Service Setting in 2008-09

  

NHS Board
Number of Teeth Extracted


Scotland
 485,698


Ayrshire and Arran
 42,883


Borders
 8,336


Dumfries and Galloway
 11,853


Fife
 32,491


Forth Valley
 26,762


Grampian
 31,344


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 137,618


Highland
 21,048


Lanarkshire
 60,166


Lothian
 72,533


Orkney
 1,056


Shetland
 1,752


Tayside
 35,273


Western Isles
 2,583



  Source: MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System)

  Notes:

  1. This data relates to dental treatment carried out under NHS General Dental Service arrangements and excludes the Community Dental Service, Hospital Dental Service and private dental treatment.

  2. The data above relates to the number of item of service claims for dental extractions.

  3. Extractions (for children in particular) will include those required for orthodontic diagnosis rather than those due to decay. It is not possible to distinguish between orthodontic and non-orthodontic extractions.

  4. Data accuracy is dependent on MIDAS data quality and may be affected by errors at source such as data entry, coding and scanning inaccuracies.

  5. NHS board is based on the dental practice postcode.

Diabetes

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients in Lanarkshire receive insulin pump therapy.

Shona Robison: In February 2010, 40 people in NHS Lanarkshire with type 1 diabetes were on insulin pump therapy.

Drug Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many drug-related accident and emergency admissions there were in NHS Lothian in each of the last three years, broken down by hospital.

Fergus Ewing: While the number of accident and emergency (A&E) admissions is collected for hospitals in NHS Lothian, information on how many drug-related A&E admissions there were in NHS Lothian is not available centrally.

Education

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have been involved in discussions with elected members in (a) East Ayrshire and (b) South Ayrshire Council regarding the future of Crossroads Primary School serving pupils in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency.

Keith Brown: Scottish ministers meet with councils, including East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire, on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of important issues. There have however been no specific discussions between ministers and elected members in East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Councils on the future of Crossroads Primary School.

  Under current legislation – the Education (Publication and Consultation Etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 1981 – and the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, which was passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament on 19 November 2009 and will come into force on 5 April, local authority decisions to close schools may, under certain circumstances, either be referred to, or called-in by, ministers for their consent. It would therefore be inappropriate for ministers to prejudge any decision they may have to take at a later stage by discussing the future of any school currently being statutorily consulted upon by a local authority.

Education (Additional Support For Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent in 2009-10 on advertising in relation to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009.

John Swinney: Approximately £320,574 inclusive of VAT will be spent in the financial year 2009-10 on advertising in relation to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009.

  The Scottish Government’s advertising spend for 2009-10 will be reconciled and published on the Scottish Government’s website in July 2010.

Education (Additional Support For Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has allocated for spending in 2010-11 on advertising in relation to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009.

John Swinney: No money has been allocated for spending in financial year 2010-11 on advertising in relation to the Education (Additional Support For Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009.

Finance

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with representatives of UK Financial Investments Ltd and, if so, what matters were discussed.

John Swinney: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth met with representatives of UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI) on 29 April 2009. They discussed a number of issues relating to the importance of our financial services industry to the life and economy of Scotland as well as discussing the role of UKFI and its plans over time.

  Further meetings will be held.

Finance

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what companies based in Scotland are owned or partly owned by UK Financial Investments Ltd.

Jim Mather: UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI) has responsibility for managing the UK Government’s investments in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Lloyds Banking Group, Bradford and Bingley and Northern Rock.

  Further information can obtained on the UKFI website at www.ukfi.gov.uk.

Finance

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Skye and Kyle Rail Development Company will receive a response to its development grant application, reference number TSEF 259.

John Swinney: All remaining decisions about Third Sector Enterprise Fund applications will be communicated within the next two weeks.

Firearms

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of concerns expressed by Amnesty International in its report, "Less than lethal?" The use of stun weapons in US law enforcement , what consideration it has given to the public safety implications of extending the use of Taser guns beyond authorised firearms officers in the Strathclyde police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31575 on 3 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Health

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30597 by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 January 2010, what the (a) average and (b) longest time taken for negligence claims to be processed and concluded is in each NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table details the average and longest time for clinical negligence claims to be settled in each NHS board area in the five financial years ending on 31 March 2009.

  

Health Board
Average Time (Days)
Longest Time (Days)


Argyll and Clyde
1,248
3,913


Ayrshire and Arran
1,494
4,325


Borders
1,735
4,460


Dumfries and Galloway
898
2,815


Fife
1,656
5,156


Forth Valley
1,368
7,337


Grampian
1,187
3,522


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1,516
7,615


Highland
1,272
2,995


Lanarkshire
1,323
5,792


Lothian
1,273
5,643


Orkney
682
1,041


Shetland
623
1,395


Tayside
1,167
4,421


Western Isles
575
884


NHS 24
362
362


National Services Scotland
1,898
1,898


Scottish Ambulance Service
481
524


Scottish Government
719
4,136



  The figures relate to the period from the date claims are received by the NHS board or the Central Legal Office to the date of final payment of the award. This may be a single payment or the last of a series over years of interim payments.

  If a case goes to a formal proof hearing, this can be many years after the proceedings commenced. Delays can occur with sists or the temporary stopping of the court processes for a variety of reasons. In the case of baby birth injuries, it is usual practice to raise proceedings soon after birth but then to sist them until the child is 10/12 to establish the true extent of the consequences of the injury as they grow up.

  The figures for those clinical negligence claims closed without settlement in the five financial years ending on 31 March 2009 are as follows.

  

Health Board
Average Time (Days)
Longest Time (Days)


Argyll and Clyde
1,231
4,505


Ayrshire and Arran
1,030
4,542


Borders
850
3,555


Dumfries and Galloway
924
4,457


Fife
979
3,999


Forth Valley
1,069
5,226


Grampian
1,047
4,437


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1,240
7,194


Highland
1,310
4,694


Lanarkshire
1,119
7,914


Lothian
1,321
5,918


Orkney
687
687


Shetland
735
1,048


Tayside
1,236
5,133


Western Isles
1,356
2,850


National Services Scotland
1,269
4,211


National Waiting Times Board
649
1,343


Scottish Ambulance Service
586
1,573


Scottish Government
2,161
2,161


State Hospital
682
682



  These figures relate to the period from the date claims are received by the NHS board or Central Legal Office to the date of file closure. Reasons for closure include repudiation (claims that have been rejected by the NHS board), abandoned claims or cases where there is no longer any activity from the pursuer or their solicitor in progression of their claim.

Healthcare Associated Infection

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will write to provide the information requested in S3W-27400 in line with his holding response of 29 September 2009.

John Swinney: I wrote to the member on 3 March 2010. A copy of the letter was also placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49262).

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the higher expression of virulence and pathogenicity of the G11.4 strain of norovirus, what typing has been carried out and what guidance has been issued on when to take and submit samples for typing.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland does not routinely request or collect typing data on norovirus. Regardless of strain, there is no difference in either the treatment of a patient with norovirus or in the management of any outbreak. The care of any patient with norovirus is based on an individual clinical assessment of their needs.

Housing

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a legal requirement for communal space in a residential area that is not maintained by the local authority to be factored.

Fergus Ewing: The title deeds of relevant properties may specify that communal spaces are to be maintained by a factor, but there is no requirement for them to do so.

International Relations

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any member of the Scottish Executive met Colombia’s UK Ambassador, Mauricio Rodriguez Munera, on his recent visit to Scotland and, if so, what issues were discussed.

Kenny MacAskill: I met with His Excellency, Mauricio Rodriguez Munera, at Portobello High School in Edinburgh where we viewed the exemplary work of s1 and s5 pupils using the Colombian Government’s "Shared Responsibility" model. The Ambassador and I discussed the devastating impact that cocaine has both at home and abroad. We both acknowledged that this was a global problem which demanded global cooperation and agreed to continue to raise awareness of this issue in order to put an end to the atrocities cocaine production causes Colombia.

  His Excellency then went on to meet the Minister for Community Safety, Fergus Ewing, in the Scottish Parliament where the international issue of cocaine was discussed in the context of the Scottish Government’s drugs strategy. The ambassador then met with the First Minister at his annual reception for the Consular Corps at Edinburgh Castle where he was presented with a Quaich of Friendship.

Medical Negligence

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many clinical negligence claims are being processed and on what date these claims were lodged in each NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of clinical negligence claims being processed, by NHS board, is given in the following table.

  

NHS Board
Number of Claims


Ayrshire and Arran
51


Borders
15


Dumfries and Galloway
42


Fife
47


Forth Valley
63


Grampian
80


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
375


Highland
42


Lanarkshire
121


Lothian
146


Orkney
2


Shetland
5


Tayside
98


Western Isles
8


NHS 24
5


National Waiting Times Centre
18


Scottish Ambulance Service
9


Scottish Government
9


Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service
19


Total
1,155



  Details of the lodgement dates for these cases are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50398).

  If a case goes to a formal proof hearing, this can be many years after the proceedings commenced. Delays can occur with sists or the temporary stopping of the court processes for a variety of reasons. In the case of baby birth injuries, it is usual practice to raise proceedings soon after birth but then to sist them until the child is 10/12 to establish the true extent of the consequences of the injury as they grow up.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the conclusions of the independent review of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 to be published.

Shona Robison: The independent review of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 was published on 7 August 2009 as part of the consultation on the review of the act. Copies were placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and also sent to the chairs of relevant cross party groups and to parliamentary committees. Following the consultation period (7 August to 6 November) 82 written responses were received.

  An analysis of the consultation responses has now been completed. The report of the analysis along with the research findings will be published on the Scottish Government website in the week commencing 8 March 2010.

  Responses to the recommendations included in the consultation will inform policy development in this area. Amendments to the act will require primary legislation which will be taken forward as part of a further legislative programme. However, there will also be some changes through practice guidance or amendments to secondary legislation.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards now deliver faster access to child and adolescent mental health services, as outlined in the NHS Scotland Performance Targets for 2009-10.

Shona Robison: The target for 2009-10 is a developmental one that has provided a focus for NHS boards and the Waiting Times Delivery Board in their work to implement the new referral to treatment waiting time target. It has focussed attention on workforce, services, data collection, quality of care, referral protocols and information systems. A three month pilot started with NHS boards in January 2010 to ensure that appropriate data-gathering systems are in place to allow their performance around the waiting time target to be monitored.

  The waiting time target, to be in place from April 2010, means that by March 2013 no one will wait longer than 26 weeks from referral to treatment for specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). It is supported by our additional investment of £5.5 million more each year in CAMHS by 2011-12 that will enable us to significantly increase the CAMHS capacity in Scotland.

NHS Hospitals

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many attendances there were at accident and emergency units in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) Western Isles in each of the last three years.

Nicola Sturgeon: The numbers of accident and emergency (A&E) new and unplanned return attendances from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2009 are presented in the following table.

  A&E departments are classified as either core or non-core sites. Core sites include all A&E departments within large hospitals. Non-core sites include minor injury units, small hospitals with manual systems and health centres in rural areas that carry out A&E type activity. Data has been collected from core sites since 1 April 2006 and from non-core sites 1 July 2007.

  Table1: A&E Attendances per Calendar Year, 2007 to 2009

  

 
2007
2008
2009


NHS Highland(a)
62,631
91,370
94,885


 Core sites
35,638
35,685
36,251


 Non-core sites
26,993(a)
55,685
58,634


NHS Orkney(b)
2,404
2,522
3,426


 Core sites
 x
x
x 


 Non-core sites
2,404
2,522
3,426


NHS Shetland
8,880
8,802
8,875


 Core sites
8,880
8,802
8,875


 Non-core Sites
 x
x
x 


NHS Western Isles(a)
8,676
8,544
8,599


 Core sites
7,885
7,089
7,013


 Non-core sites
791(a)
1,455
1,586



  Source: ISD Scotland A&E data mart (1 July 2007 to 31 December 2009) and Weblogic reporting system (1 January 2007 to 30 June 2007).

  Key to symbols:

  x not applicable

  Notes:

  (a) NHS Highland and NHS Western Isles data for non-core sites was collected from 1 July 2007.

  (b) NHS Orkney data was collected from 1 January 2007. Data prior to March 2009 is not fully reflective of activity due to incomplete recording. New processes have now been implemented to resolve this issue.

  Further data on attendances at accident and emergency departments can be found on the ISD website at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4024.html.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether recording of inter-ward transfer rates is a standard part of monitoring arrangements either as part of or separately from infection control management procedures in hospitals.

Nicola Sturgeon: The routine recording of inter-ward transfer rates is not part of current national infection control guidance, however this does take place in the majority of hospitals in Scotland. All hospitals monitor the movement of any patient who has a suspected infection as part of established infection control measures.

National Health Service

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29598 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 December 2009, what impact the Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation findings will have on future budget allocations for remote and rural areas.

Nicola Sturgeon: TAGRA has been overseeing an assessment of the impact of the NRAC formula on remote and rural areas as agreed in the Parliamentary debate on Remote and Rural Healthcare in June 2008. I expect them to report their findings to me in the near future.

  In terms of future budget allocations for NHS boards, when I accepted the recommendations of NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) I made it clear that no board would receive a cut in funding as a result of these changes. Any adjustments made to the 14 territorial NHS boards’ funding will be phased in over a number of years, as was the practice under both the previous SHARE and Arbuthnott formulae.

  Given the current tight financial climate there is unlikely to be significant movement in NHS boards’ relative shares of NHS funding in the immediate future.

Police

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many working days were lost due to assaults on police officers in each of the last five years, broken down by police force.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many working days were lost due to assaults on police force support staff in each of the last five years, broken down by police force.

Kenny MacAskill: This is a matter for individual police forces. The information requested is not held centrally.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28146 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 October 2009, how many of the police officers recruited in the fourth quarter of 2009 were funded by (a) police authorities and (b) the Scottish Government, broken down by police force.

Kenny MacAskill: Police authorities are funded by Police Grant from the Scottish Government, with the balance of their budgets being met by constituent local authorities. Police funding is at a record level and police grant will increase by 3.1% in 2010-11.

  In addition, the Scottish Government is directly meeting the recruitment, training and salary costs of 1,000 officers over the lifetime of this Parliament. In 2009-10, the Scottish Government has provided funding for 189 new officers as well as continuing to meet the salary costs of 612 additional officers recruited in 2007-08 and 2008-09. From 1 April to 31 December 2009, 704 police officers have left the service and 929 have been recruited. The timing of recruitment of additional officers and officers replacing those who have left the service is a matter for police authorities.

  Police Officers Recruited and Trained from 1 October to 31 December 2009, Broken Down by Police Force

  

Police Force
Number of Officers


Central Scotland Police
20


Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary
0


Fife Constabulary
12


Grampian Police
12


Lothian and Borders Police
44


Northern Constabulary
14


Strathclyde Police
158


Tayside Police
7


Total
267

Prison Service

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific systems are in place to support offending ex-service personnel with regard to (a) mental health, (b) drug abuse and (c) alcohol abuse when they leave prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service delivers Primary Care Mental Health Services and Addiction Services to all prisoners based on assessed need. These are delivered through comprehensive multi-agency approaches that manage individualised care and offender management pathways to prisoners. Such individualised pathways include addressing and supporting a prisoner’s needs whilst in custody, planning and preparation for community reintegration, and the provision of continued support on liberation.

Prison Service

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of receptions to prison involves ex-service personnel.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The proportion of ex service personnel within overall admissions is shown below on a year-by-year basis.

  

Year
% of Ex Service Personnel
Number of Individuals


2005
1.39
225


2006
1.47
257


2007
1.51
266


2008
1.60
276


2009
1.54
248


2010
1.29
47



  Notes:

  Data provided correct as of 2 March 2010.

  Overall admissions only count each prisoner once in each calendar year.

  Ex service personnel refers to those admitted to custody who have identified themselves, or been identified, to the Scottish Prison Service as being ex armed forces.

Schools

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary schools have received an Eco-Schools Green Flag award, broken down by local authority area.

Keith Brown: The number of primary schools that have attained Green Flag status is 730. The following table sets this out by local authority area:

  

Local Authority
Number of Green Flag Primary Schools
Local Authority
Number of Green Flag Primary Schools


Aberdeen City
8
Highland
39


Aberdeenshire
27
Inverclyde
7


Angus
13
Midlothian
3


Argyll and Bute
29
Moray
7


City of Edinburgh
22
North Ayrshire
21


Clackmannanshire
14
North Lanarkshire
83


Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
3
Orkney
2


Dumfries and Galloway
33
Perth and Kinross
32


Dundee City
1
Renfrewshire
24


East Ayrshire
8
Scottish Borders
13


East Dunbartonshire
27
Shetland
15


East Lothian
13
South Ayrshire
13


East Renfrewshire
18
South Lanarkshire
33


Falkirk
27
Stirling
27


Fife
70
West Dunbartonshire
7


Glasgow City
48
West Lothian
43



  Information on all awarded schools can be found at: http://www.ecoschoolsscotland.org/index.asp.

Scottish Driving Assessment Centre

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the average waiting time for assessment advice or support from the Scottish Driving Assessment Centre.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to meet the increasing patient demand for services provided by the Scottish Driving Assessment Service.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce Scottish Driving Assessment Service waiting times.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Driving Assessment Centre aims to provide a flexible and accessible service, and holds clinics at the South East Mobility and Rehabilitation (SMART) Centre in Edinburgh and six locations across Scotland. Its mobile unit enables patients to access patients in their own locality, providing greater convenience and accessibility. Patients have a choice of being seen either at the SMART Centre or the mobile unit.

Scottish Driving Assessment Centre

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a second permanent Scottish Driving Assessment Service site will be established in the West of Scotland and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19737 on 22 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Scottish Government Buildings

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that all non-essential IT equipment across its estate is switched off when not in use.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government have implemented a set of policies and applications to reduce power consumption and costs of its IT systems. Power policies on PCs, laptops and printers ensure that these devices are switched to low power states when not in use. PCs and laptops are monitored and shutdown automatically when not required after 19:00 in the evening. The automatic shutdown of printers after working hours is also being evaluated.

  Since the introduction of these policies in April 2008, it is estimated that these measures have saved the Scottish Government 533 tonnes of carbon and £100,000 in energy costs in the running of IT Services.

Scottish Water

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates it met representatives of Macquarie Bank and what was discussed at each meeting.

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed the future funding model for Scottish Water with representatives of Macquarie Bank and, if so, on how many occasions and what the outcome was of those discussions.

John Swinney: The First Minister met a representative of Macquarie Bank on 11 September 2008 to discuss where Macquarie might be able to support the strategy of the Scottish Government. Scottish Water was not discussed at this meeting.

  At their invitation I met with other representatives of Macquarie Bank on 15 July 2009 to discuss the financing of Scottish Water. At this meeting I made clear that the Scottish Government was only interested in options that allowed Scottish Water to remain in public ownership and accountable to the people of Scotland through Scottish ministers.

Scottish Water

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding models for Scottish Water have been the subject of further work or investigation by the (a) Scottish Government or (b) Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has not undertaken any further work or investigation into funding models for Scottish Water since my meeting with representatives of Macquarie Bank on 15 July 2009.

  With regards to what funding models for Scottish Water have been the subject of further work or investigation by the Scottish Futures Trust I have asked their Chief Executive, Barry White, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Scottish Futures Trust is considering a broad range of options for potential future funding of Scottish Water in public ownership.

Scottish Water

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether future meetings are planned involving representatives of the Scottish Futures Trust, Macquarie Bank and Scottish Water to discuss alternative funding models for Scottish Water and, if so, when such meetings will take place.

John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust to respond. His response is as follows:

  No such meetings are planned.

Sport

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on calls from the Scottish Surfing Federation for a Scottish surfing team to take part in international events.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it could support the creation of a Scottish surfing team to take part in international events.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on calls from the Scottish Surfing Federation for a Scottish team to take part in International Surfing Association events.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government would be supportive of the Scottish Surfing Federation developing a Scottish surfing team to take part in International events. However, they have not yet gone through the formal process for recognition as the sports governing body in Scotland as agreed by the Home Country Sports Councils. sportscotland, the national agency responsible for the development of sport and physical recreation in Scotland, have offered their support to the Scottish Surfing Federation to help them through the recognition process.

  If successful, as the recognised governing body for surfing in Scotland, this would put the Scottish Surfing Federation in a much stronger position when presenting their plan to enter a Scottish team in future international surfing events.

Sport

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports surfing.

Shona Robison: EventScotland provided £25,000 to the 2009 O’Neill Coldwater Classic event and a further £25,000 to the 2008 O’Neill Highland Open which were both extremely successful events.

  Surfing is one of five key sports promoted via VisitScotland’s adventure sports marketing activity. VisitScotland also provides specific PR support for the O’Neill Cold Water Classics. This complements the funding provided by EventScotland for the event itself.

  The 2009 O’Neill Coldwater Classic in Thurso was broadcast around the world for a total of 859 hours across six continents showcasing Scotland’s breathtaking coastline and enthusiastic supporters.

Swimming Pools

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children of (a) primary and (b) secondary school age have access to free swimming in the East Ayrshire Council area.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children of (a) primary and (b) secondary school age have access to free swimming in the South Ayrshire Council area.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children of (a) primary and (b) secondary school age have access to free Swimming in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is being made for access to free swimming for children in South Carrick following the closure of Girvan swimming pool.

Shona Robison: We are currently working with Scottish Swimming, sportscotland and others to ensure we offer more and better opportunities for our young people across Scotland to enjoy and benefit from swimming. Our investment of over £1.3 million to Scottish Swimming this year, the biggest ever single investment in a Scottish governing body of sport, shows our commitment to swimming in Scotland.

Teachers

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to support supply teachers unable to secure permanent positions.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has taken a number of actions to support supply teachers unable to secure permanent positions and has worked with partners, including local authority employers, to ensure that they also play their part.

  It is crucial that those in supply posts are supported in their responsibility to engage in continuing professional development (CPD). Local authorities, as their employers, clearly have a vital role in doing that. The Scottish Government therefore asked the National CPD Team (funded by the government and based at COSLA) to refresh guidance for local authorities on CPD for supply teachers. I brought that guidance to the attention of local authority Directors of Education through a letter issued on 5 February 2010.

  To support those primary responsibilities of professionals and their employers, the Scottish Government also tasked the National CPD Team with developing an online resource for teachers who are not currently regularly employed and who have difficulty accessing CPD. That online resource – "CPD Step In" – is now available through GLOW, providing a discussion area with chat, forum and web meeting tools, the facility to share resources and links, advice on professional review and development, and examples of free, online CPD on GLOW and beyond.

  Further information on the guidance on CPD for supply teachers and on CPD Step In is available on the CPD Scotland website http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/cpdscotland/index.asp.

Wheelchairs

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for inclusion in the ReTIS project’s pilot programme trialling the use of attendant-controlled electrically powered outdoor wheelchairs and how these criteria were determined.

Shona Robison: Under the direction of the Wheelchair and Seating Services Project Board, a small multidisciplinary clinical working group was charged with identifying clinical criteria to support a pilot service development to trial alternative wheelchair options in NHSScotland. This work is being taken forward by the five wheelchair centres on behalf of all health boards in Scotland. Its purpose is to evaluate the impact of dual controlled and attendant controlled powered wheelchairs for those users and their carers who may benefit from access to such equipment.

  The Rehabilitation Technology Information System (ReTIS) website has published the inclusion criteria for the pilot at:

  http://www.retis.scot.nhs.uk/groups/docs/scotretwc/ScotretCriteriaEPAC_14_10_2009.pdf.

  Information for user and carers is also available from their local wheelchair provider.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

MSPs’ Staff

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many MSP staff members have used the Bray Leino Broadskill training services since the contract began.

Mike Pringle: Since the start of the Bray Leino Broadskill contract in June 2009, a total of 49 MSP staff have attended training using the Bray Leino contract. Of those, 19 MSP staff have attended courses on the Corporate Training Programme and 30 MSP staff have attended external training courses using the funding provision available through the Members’ Expenses Scheme.